Lancaster Block (Portland, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lancaster Block
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The Lancaster Block in November 2011.
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 50 Monument Square, Portland, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1881; rebuilt in 1908 |
| Architect | Stevens, John Calvin, Fassett, Francis H. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000745 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1982 |
The Lancaster Block is a historic building in downtown Portland, Maine. It's located at 50 Monument Square. This building is a great example of a style called Romanesque Revival architecture. It was built in 1881 and made bigger in 1908. The building is named after Lancaster, New Hampshire, which was the hometown of its builder, J.B. Brown. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
What is the Lancaster Block?
The Lancaster Block is a six-story building made mostly of red bricks. It also has special decorations made from terra cotta and granite. Terra cotta is a type of baked clay, and granite is a strong stone. The building faces north, looking out onto Monument Square.
How the Building Looks
The front of the building has seven sections, called bays. The main entrance is in the middle, with glass storefronts on each side. On the second and third floors, the windows are in pairs. They are set in openings that look like rounded arches.
The fourth-floor windows are also in pairs, but each window has its own arch. A decorative band separates the fourth and fifth floors. This band used to be the top edge of the building. The fifth-floor windows are rectangular. The windows on the very top floor are set in rounded arches, with two windows per section.
History of the Building
The Lancaster Block was designed by two famous architects, John Calvin Stevens and Francis Fassett. It was built in 1881 for a businessman named John B. Brown. He was very important in Portland at that time.
When it was first built, the Lancaster Block only had four stories. In 1908, two more floors were added. These new floors were designed by Fassett's company. They were made to match the original style of the building perfectly.
